Week 11--Measuring the Cost

This week’s lesson was very insightful.  What are you willing to give up to be successful in your business?  How do you balance your family, work, and church?  What is most important, money, family, power? These are some of the questions I thought about as I studied this week.  I really liked what Randy Komisar said about balancing your life and career. He said that it is essential to stay ethical and never put yourself in a position where you can’t say no.  (Randy Komisar, video “Balancing Your Life and Your Career Successfully”)  There will be trade-offs so that you can have balance, so knowing what those trade-offs will be and being okay with them will help you be successful.  Having balance in your life will bring true happiness.

I also liked that in the article, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, it talks about losing yourself in a Hero’s journey.  To live this journey, you must 1) overcome challenges, 2) lose yourself in a relationship, 3) lose yourself in thanks and generosity, and 4) lose yourself through a connection with God.  Of these four steps, the one I want to work more on now is developing a greater sense of gratitude. One of the ideas in the article is to keep a journal of the positive reflections from the day. Think about and notice the small things that made you happy that day. I think that as I do this, I will soon realize that I have much to be grateful for. Another part of learning to be grateful, which I think goes hand in hand with a journal of reflection, is suppressing Negative Chatter.  I know that negative chatter is so destructive, yet, I have struggles keeping it out of my mind. I am harder on me than I am on anyone else. “It turns out that having a positive attitude does make a difference and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” (“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, Acton Foundation, 2008) Positive thoughts go a long way in producing happiness.

Attitude On Money (Stephen W. Gibson, "Attitude on Money", Jan. 2017)

1.       What is your attitude toward money?

You can’t support your family, help others, or build the kingdom of God without money.  We have been taught to be self-reliant and part of that reliance is planning for the future. Saving money for the future is ideal and a good way to use your money.  Money is neither good or evil, its what you do with the money that makes it that way.

2.       How can your view of money affect the way you live?

My view of money can affect the way I live very positively.  As I use my money to support my family, help others, get an education, I am using my money positively.  I feel that as I seek for opportunities to gain money, I need to remember not to neglect my family.  Family is more important than being rich.

3.       What rules are recommended for prospering?

There are six rules to follow if you want to prosper.

• Rule 1: Seek the Lord and Have hope in Him
• Rule 2: Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.
• Rule 3: Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.
• Rule 4: Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters.  Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity
• Rule 5: Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.
• Rule 6: Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty, or the sick or those who are held captive.

I think that if we follow these six rules, we will use our money for good. We may not be the wealthiest person, but we will be happy.  Money can’t buy happiness, but if money is used correctly, we can be happy.